Ondansetron Prescription at ED Discharge for Children with Gastroenteritis: Safe and Effective?

Receiving an ondansetron prescription at discharge was associated with lower odds of a return visit and did not mask serious alternative diagnoses.

Researchers retrospectively assessed the impact of a discharge prescription for ondansetron on the rate of return visits in children with gastroenteritis. The secondary outcome was missed serious alternative diagnoses (diabetic ketoacidosis, appendicitis, meningitis, intussusception, intracranial mass).

The study included 82,139 patients aged 6 months to 18 years given a diagnosis of gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea, vomiting alone, or gastritis at a tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED) or its associated urgent care centers from 2012 to 2017. During the visit, treatments included intravenous fluids (7.9%) and ondansetron (55.1%). At discharge, 13.5% of patients received prescriptions for ondansetron.

Overall, 3851 patients (4.7%…

Reviewing Author

Carolyn K. Holland, MD, MEd, FACEP, FAAP

Disclosures

EquityGeneral Electric

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Program Committee Chief Resident Forum Subcommittee Chair); American College of Emergency Physicians (Education Committee member)

Carolyn K. Holland, MD, MEd, FACEP, FAAP

Disclosures

EquityGeneral Electric

Ondansetron Prescription at ED Discharge for Children with Gastroenteritis: Safe and Effective?

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Reviewing Author